“But He [Jesus] answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
Mathew 4:4
Many people are aware of the importance of making healthy eating choices. Most people understand that eating a diet largely of potato chips, cotton candy and fast food is not going to help the body operate at its best. In fact, over time, it can damage the body and weaken the immune system. Most understand the importance of eating fruits and vegetables and other healthy food sources for the bulk of their diet.
The same is true for our spiritual diet. 1 Timothy 4:8 says: “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.”
In this scripture the Lord is recognizing that taking care of our physical body is of some benefit, but the most important and most profit comes from taking care of our spiritual bodies. It is very popular in today’s culture to focus on healthy eating through various dietary disciplines. Many will take great care and effort to take care of their physical bodies through exercise and healthy eating, yet when it comes to their spiritual bodies they forget the importance of feeding on a good healthy diet of God’s Word.
Proverbs 4:20-23 says: “My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
Think of God’s Word as that healthy food in your diet. Just as you should mostly be eating healthy balanced meals, the same is true of God’s Word. We should constantly be feeding our spirits on God’s Word day and night. We understand the importance of eating at least three good meals a day. We should be doing no less with God’s word and in fact, as the above scripture says — it shouldn’t depart from our eyes.
In today’s culture it is easy to get sidetracked with the latest movie, television show, video game, news show, social media and the list goes on. If you think of these things as equivalent to junk food, then you are able to keep them in perspective and minimize the time you spend doing them. Sitting down to watch the latest form of entertainment can be fun; but if it is not glorifying God with Godly principles, then it is the equivalent of binging on cotton candy and slushies.
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8
If the video games, TV, movies, news or social media do not fit the above scriptural description, then you are feeding your spirit junk food. The bulk of what we put into our eyes and ears should be the word of God. The healthier spiritual diet we take in, the happier and more successful life we will enjoy. Just as our physical body will suffer if we constantly feed it junk food, so our spiritual bodies will suffer if we are constantly feasting on spiritual junk. As our spiritual body becomes weakened, eventually our physical bodies, relationships and other important life issues can become compromised as well.
You might say, “I’m already successful and doing well.” Praise God for that! Just think how much MORE successful you would be in your life and how much More God could use you to be a blessing to others by your making the commitment to immerse yourself in God’s Word and to either limit or even get rid of the spiritual junk food. Then you truly will break down the gates of hell and be able to pull others up and out and glorify God in all that you do! Don’t settle for less than God’s absolute best in your life in every area!
In addition, there are some things we should never allow into our eyes or ears. Just as there are some foods that are deadly (poisonous plants) that were never intended to be eaten, there are dangerous and deadly movies and TV shows that we should never allow across our ears or eyes.
Jesus says in Mathew 6:22-24: “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Fear also comes the same way, by hearing and hearing by the kingdom of darkness. When you read books or watch movies or play video games that engender fear or go directly contrary to God’s word, then you are literally opening the door for a stumbling block. However, when you keep your eyes with single focus on Jesus, then you have now moved into miracle working, mountain moving faith territory and there is no opportunity for stumbling.
Make a commitment this week to observe how much time you are spending in the Word vs. in multi media that is not lifting up the name of Jesus. Determine to get yourself onto a healthy spiritual diet so that you can experience God’s best every day of your life. Then watch as every area of your life begins to increase exponentially and see how those around you are blessed by your presence and the light of God shining through you!
Deuteronomy 11:18-21
“Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates: That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.”
Colossians 3:1-2
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”
Joshua 1:8
“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
1 Corinthians 10:23
“All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.”
1 Corinthians 6:12
“All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”
Galatians 5:16-18 & 25
“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law…if we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
Psalm 1:1-2
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”
Further Reading: Acts 1-4
